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Tag: Commissioner of Police

  • Deputy Commissioner of Police found dead in Ogbomoso home

    Deputy Commissioner of Police found dead in Ogbomoso home

    A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Gbolahan Olugbemi, has been found dead at his Ogbomoso, Oyo State home.

    He was an aide-de-camp to former Oyo State Governor, the late Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala,

    The deceased was said to have left Lagos for Ogbomoso to celebrate Easter. His body was reportedly found dangling from the roof of his living room in Ogbomoso on Monday.

    The Nation gathered that prior to his death, Olugbemi was in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.

    Read Also: Deputy Commissioner of Police reportedly hangs self in Ogbomoso

    Spokesperson of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) annex, Lagos, Oluwakemi Mayegun, confirmed Olugbemi’s death.

    Mayegun, however said there was no information about the cause of his death.

    The police authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident.

    The deceased served in different capacities in the force. He once served as the Area Commander of ‘Area J’ command, in Lekki-Ajah axis of Lagos State.

  • Abia CP expresses commitment to crime reduction

    Mr.  Ene Okon, the Commissioner of Police in Abia, has expressed his commitment to law enforcement and crime reduction in the state.

    Okon, who was away to Ebonyi during the general elections, made this known while briefing newsmen in Umuahia upon his return to Abia on Tuesday.

    He said that as the commissioner of police in the state, his mandate revolved squarely around law enforcement and fight against crime and criminality “without fear or favour.”

    READ ALSO: Abia gets new CP ahead of Saturday’s polls

    He said: “I am going to face the task of policing the state squarely because I have no other thing to do than ensuring adequate security in the state.

    “This briefing has afforded me the opportunity to sound it loud and clear to criminals that I am not here to fraternise with them but fight them.

    “If they are sensible and clever enough they can find another place to go because Abia will not contain all of us,” Okon said.

    The police boss said that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure thorough investigation of every criminal case in the command in order that justice would prevail.

  • Rep Olatoye’s killing: Justice ’ll be done, says Oyo CP

    Commissioner of Police in Oyo State Shina Olukolu has assured the family of the late member of House of Representatives, Olatoye Temitope (Sugar), that the command will not rest until the perpetrators of his death are apprehended and brought to book

    He assured the families of the deceased lawmaker that the command was working on available information in its custody to ensure that the perpetrators and their collaborators are nabbed.

    The assurance came on the heels of the plea for justice by the family, associates and friends of the deceased lawmaker.

    Vowing that the family would get justice, CP Olukolu stressed that all that needs to be done would be done in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the perpetrators did not go scot-free.

    He spoke while featuring on a radio programme on Inspiration FM monitored in Ibadan on the topic: “Do-or-die politics in Nigeria”.

    Expressing dismay at how the spread of fake news, especially on social media almost jeopardise the efforts of the security operatives, Olukolu warned the people to beware of the kind of information they believed and get authentic facts from people.

    He reiterated that the command went through an arduous time trying to confirm the authenticity of the death of many prominent people in the state on the heels of the death of Sugar, which turned out to be false.

    Olukolu said: “We are working on the information we have and we are assuring that the culprits will be arrested and brought to book.

    “The family will get justice. We can assure you and that is also the assurance from the Inspector General of Police.

    “There was serious tension when the news of the death broke out on the day of the election. But with synergy with other sister security agencies, the support of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11 and the Inspector General of Police, we were able to tame the situation.

    Read also: Who will fix Oyo APC’s fractured home?

    “We stationed our men at strategic volatile places, including Iwo Road, immediately and we recovered some arms. We also intensified our patrol and we were able to put the situation under control.

    “People must be circumvent of the kind of stories and information they spread and believed, especially on the social media. And I was shocked at the calibre of people, who even believed the stories.

    “It took us a long time to be able to verify the rumours of those that were alleged to have been killed. We had to put calls through to the like of Senator Teslim Folarin, the son of Auxiliary and all those that were alleged to have been killed, only for all of them to say nothing happened to them.

    “Then, we started debunking the rumours. Our people must know how damaging the spread of fake news could be and we must be very careful.

    “The Inspector General of Police had told us that there could be reaction from both sides after the election, either from the winner or loser and we also took proactive measures to ensure that there was safety of lives and property in the state.”

  • Six policemen detained over burning of INEC facility

    Six policemen have been arrested over the attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Registration Area Centre (RAC) by hoodlums in Ebonyi state.

    The arrested officers were deployed to Ezza North Local Government Area for the March 9 Governorship and Assembly Elections in Ebonyi State.

    The hoodlums had attacked the INEC facility around 2 am on the Election Day, burning down three RAC buildings which had all the sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials for the election in the area.

    It was gathered the policemen were arrested and detained for allegedly allowing the hoodlums to carry out their action without arresting any of the suspects or preventing them.

    Commissioner of police, Mr. Awoshola Awotinde, who reported the incident to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of election monitoring in south East, ordered for the immediate arrest and proper investigation of the incident.

    Read also: APC rejects Ebonyi governorship result, heads to tribunal

    Police Spokesman, Loveth Odah, confirmed the arrest of the policemen.

    She said that having failed to protect the election materials, they were arrested and undergoing orderly room trial.

    She assured if found guilty, they would face their punishment which may include dismissal from the force.

     “Two mobile policemen were posted to each of the three RACs that were attacked.

    “We post them there because we know such attack could come or for them to counter such attacks, but also because they needed to be closer, while calling on tactical unit once there is any eventuality.

    “But we were surprised that the invaders came and got all the materials and the building burnt unchallenged.

    “Just like I use to tell you every day that police cannot sweep public complaints under the carpet, we don’t tolerate indiscipline and as we checkmate the public, we also checkmate our colleagues.

    “So the Commissioner of Police ordered for their arrest. They have been under investigation to ascertain whether their claims were true,” she said.

    She went on: “The most senior among them said that as soon as those thugs arrived, they switched off the generator and everywhere became dark to the extent that someone could not see the rare end.

    ”The six of them were posted to the three RACs that the incident happened.

    “We are waiting for INEC officials who were posted to come and give their own statement because it will be vital information in the investigation and it will help us to ascertain if what the police officers said is true.”

    Meanwhile, INEC is set to conduct supplementary elections in the two-state constituencies affected by the attack.

    36,000 voters were disenfranchised as a result of the incident forcing the electoral body to declare the election inconclusive.

    The supplementary election is according to a statement by INEC in the state will hold on Saturday, March 23.

    The statement by the Acting Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Mr. Andy Ezeani said supplementary election will also hold in some polling units in Izzi local government area.

    “For Ebonyi State consequently, supplementary elections will be held in the following Constituencies; Ezza North West (Ekka Registration Area – 16 PUs and Oriuzor Registration Area, 32 PUs/VPs); Ezza North East (Okposi Umuoghara Registration Area – 27 PU/VPs)

    “Izzi East 19 PUs across the following Registration Areas; Igbeagu Nduogbu, Igbeagu Ndietta, Igbeagu III, Mgbaluku I, Mgbabeluzor and Ndieze Ndiabor Ishiagu,” Ezeani said in the statement.

  • Elections: New commissioner of police deployed to Benue

    A new Commissioner of Police has been deployed to Benue, ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly Elections,  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports.

    NAN reports that the new CP,  Mr Umar Muri,  replaces Mr Omolulu Bishi, who has been reassigned to another duty post.

    The Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing elections in the North Central,  Mr Godwin Nwobodo, announced the change at a press conference on Friday in Makurdi.

    NAN further reports that Bishi spent about six months in charge of the command before his redeployment.

    Nwobodo also said not more than 7,480 personnel from various security services had been drafted for election duties in the state.

    “Furthermore, a total number of five Commissioners, four Deputy Commissioners (DCPs) and two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) are already in the state to man strategic senatorial districts and local government areas identified as flash-points.

    “These deployments are friendly, proactive and do not aim at any person or group, ” he said.

    He said the officers were specifically attached to Guma, Logo, Ukum, Agatu, Gwer West, Gwer East, Okpoku and Katsina-Ala LGAs,  while security was generally strengthened across the state.

    Read also: INEC replaces burnt I98 Smart Card Readers in Akwa Ibom

    He said the command was convinced that Benue people were ready for the polls.

    Nwobod, however,  appealed to politicians not to see elections as a do-or-die affair,  but as a democratic means of enthroning good leadership.

    “Credible elections enthrone good governance and good governance serves the greater good for the citizens.

    ” Election should, therefore, not be a do-or-die affair. As security agencies, we have a responsibility to police the rules and regulations set out by INEC.

    “These sets of rules and regulations are provided for in the Nigeria Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines/ Regulations and all other extant laws, ” he said.

    He said that no form of violence, thuggery, voter intimidation, vote buying, brigandage, bearing arms/weapons and other offensive conducts would be tolerated in the state. (NAN)

  • Kaduna community deserted after deadly attack

    The Fulani community in parts of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have abandoned the area after an attack on Feb. 11, which left 66 of them, mostly women and children dead.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that what remained of the Rugar Fulani community were burnt houses, animals, motorcycles, kitchen utensils, as well as were bodies of women and children buried in a ditch.

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i, accompanied by General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, the Police Commissioner and journalists who visited the villages on Saturday, found the entire area deserted with no humans in sight.

    Speaking on the attack, the GOC, Major- Gen Faruk Yahaya said troops deployed to the area after the attack, assisted by some villagers, discovered 37 bodies of women and children buried in a ditch and the settlements burnt.

    “We were informed that the women were lured by the miscreants to the stream, and on getting there, they were slaughtered.

    “The figure of deaths recorded by us is 66, but in collaboration with sister agencies, we will ensure peace is restored and people return to their settlements”.

    On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad AbdurRahman explained that though the police had mopped up the area, the residents still fled their settlements in fear of more attack.

    He confirmed the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the attack, adding that they would be charged to court on Monday.

    The police chief said investigation was continuing, adding that it was largely to  identify the miscreants and isolate them from the good people within the communities so as to restore lasting peace.

    Also speaking, the governor lamented over the politicisation of the situation by being in denial of the real issues at stake.

    “Some leaders are living in denial. They are saying only 11 were killed and the security have said 66 were killed while the community said over a hundred were killed and missing”, El-Rufa’i noted.

    He advised the people to be vigilant, as those politicizing the issue have disregarded those that died simply because they were not from their tribes.

    “All lives are sacred and equal, hence we must collectively bring an end to this menace,” he said.(NAN)

  • Police arrest 400 suspected thugs in Akwa Ibom

    The police in Akwa Ibom State yesterday morning arrested 400 suspected thugs in Uyo, the state capital. The suspects were arrested in their hideout in Ewet Housing Estate.

    Police Inspector, Jeremiah Dogo, said the “arrest was made possible by the deployment of extra policemen to the state by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).”

    Inspector Dogo said the suspects confessed that they were brought in from Bayelsa and Rivers states by PDP chieftains to help rig the general elections.

    The hideout where the thugs were nabbed is believed to be owned by a PDP chieftain in the state.

    The suspects are mostly indigenes of the two states.

    Guns and ammunition were recovered from them.

    Police say they have received reports of the various hideouts of the thugs and cultists that have come into the state in the last few days.

    “We will make life unbearable for them,” a source in the state police command said.

    The APC in the state has hailed the police for the arrest.

    The APC said the arrest has brought to fore the alleged statement by the director-general of the state governor’s campaign council, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), that Governor Udom Emmanuel should prepare for war if he wanted to win the upcoming election.

    Read also: Election postponement: Remain peaceful in face of provocation, Atiku urges

    The party also quoted the speaker of the state house of assembly, Onofiok Luke and Senator Bassey Albert as allegedly saying a few months ago that they would do everything possible to ensure the victory of the PDP in the general elections.

    The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, said he was not aware of the arrest of any group of persons said to be working for the party.

    But the State Commissioner of police, Mr. Bashir Makama, who confirmed the arrests, said the police was still investigating the matter to find out if the suspects were PDP or APC thugs.

    Makama said the police acted on intelligence report, hence carried out raids on suspected black spots in Uyo and its environs to forestall any breakdown of law and order during today’s residential election.

    The Commissioner of Police, who was also silent on the number of suspects arrested in the sting operation, also said he was not aware of any vehicle caught with money in it.

  • Again, Bayelsa gets new commissioner of police

    A new Commissioner of Police, Aminu Pai Saleh, has been posted to the Bayelsa State Command.

    Saleh took over from Joseph Mukan, who was reportedly redeployed to commissioner of police, Lagos Airport.

    A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinine said the new Commissioner took over the state command on 17th December, 2018.

    He said: “Until his present posting he was the Commissioner of Police, Airport, Lagos.

    Read Also: PDP congratulates Buhari at 76, tasks him on rule of law

    “He is a dogged crime fighter and a professional Police officer, who has served in various commands and formations in various capacities.

    “The Command, by this announcement, solicits the cooperation and partnership of the good and well meaning people of Bayelsa State to accord the new Commissioner of Police, the necessary support to discharge his duties of maintaining law and order in the State”.

  • 2019 elections: Be combat ready, police boss charges personnel

    As electioneering campaigns in Nigeria kick off, the police high command has tasked officers and men to be alive to their responsibilities.

    The command also charged its personnel to be combat ready in their duty post.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 8 Adekunle Oladunjoye said this Tuesday in Ilorin while on a familiarisation tour of the Kwara state command.

    Zone 8 comprises Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti states.

    Read Also:Edgal alleges politicians are importing thugs for 2019 elections

    Mr. Oladunjoye added that; “once you are on duty as a policeman be combat ready as if you are in war front. Don’t take things for granted.

    “Crime is generally on the increase. We are trying to tame it. Though, the police is overstretched but we are on top of the game.”

    He called for optimal utilization of manpower, material and resources among officers and men in the police command, saying that the short fall of personnel affected all state commands.

    The AIG also charged police personnel to uphold rule of law in their dealings, be tactful, and be helpful to members of the public, saying that no police personnel can achieve anything without cooperation of members of the public.

    Earlier, the state Commissioner of police, Bolaji Fafowora lamented short fall of officers and men in the command, saying that only 46 out of 116 traffic wardens are left to cover the whole command.

    The CP said that the shortage of manpower had made it increasingly difficult to meet human resource needs of the command in terms of deployment, patrol and other critical assignments.

    The police boss, who said that 48 out of the 116 traffic wardens had already gone on retirement between January and June 2018, added that 22 of them had also gone on retirement between September and now.

    He said that the development was not unconnected to movement of officers and men out of the command in form of transfer without any corresponding replacement, especially to special units like the border patrol, police mobile force, CTU, and the SPU.

    “In the same manner, the command is equally facing serious depletion of its personnel in the 15 pmf squadron attached to the command through movement of about five units out of the eight units in the squadron, on special assignments outside the state.

    However, the police boss said that despite the challenge, the state was relatively calm, adding that officers and men were driven to remain on their toes in prevention of crime and criminality.

    Fafowora, who said that the command had succeeded in bringing down activities of cultists, added that the command was hopeful that more feats could still be achieved if required basic policing tools like serviceable patrol vehicles, anti-riot equipment, armored personnel carriers (APC) and more men were provided.

  • APC, PDP boycott CP’s meeting with party heads in Bayelsa 

    …Police boss warns against thuggery, arms

     

     

    The Bayelsa State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were conspicuously absent Monday in a meeting between political parties in the state and the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan.

    The stakeholders’ meeting, which was held at the police officers’ mess, Yenagoa following the commencement of campaigns for 2019 general elections, had in attendance chairmen of other smaller parties.

    Mukan invited heads of all political parties in Bayelsa under the auspices of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to brainstorm on modalities and challenges to peaceful campaigns and free and fair elections in the state.

    But the state chairmen of PDP and the APC, Moses Cleopas and Jothan Amos, were missing in the attendance without persons to represent them.

    In their various contributions, some of the chairmen including the state Leader of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Edwin Tare, lamented the absence of the two major parties.

    Tare said it was unfortunate that leaders of the two parties were habitually absent in stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties during an election period.

    He said the deliberation would not achieve its purpose without the participation of the two major parties since according to him issues of violence and bearing arms primarily involved them.

    But Mukan said the absence of the two major political parties had nothing to do with the progress of the meeting adding that the outcome of the deliberation applied to all the parties in the state.

    He said all the parties were invited to the meeting but wondered why the PDP and the APC leaders neither attended the gathering nor sent representatives.

    He noted that any party that acted contrary to the electoral guidelines or breached security would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

    He said: “We cannot hold a separate discussion with them. Everybody was invited but they didn’t send any representation that is why they are not here. Anybody who falls prey or err will be totally dealt with”.

    Reading the Riot Act, Mukan warned parties against bringing arms to their campaign grounds under any guise.

    Describing the police as an unbiased umpire, he said the force would ensure a level-playing field and security to all the parties.

    The police boss appealed to party leaders to mount pressure on parents to rein in their children, who would want to act as thugs to politicians during campaigns.

    Addressing them, he said: “You are the major players and we have to talk to ourselves and see how far we can go. You are all aware that the campaign has started. We have rules guiding every competition most especially our elections. The electoral laws are very clear. The INEC guidelines are there to guide us. Security agents are here to ensure a level-playing ground.

    “So, there is a need for us to come together and see how we will have a successful election in 2019.  We are assuring you of security for every participant. Our own is to ensure that there is security for you. Feel free and exercise your franchise. A lot of activities are involved in campaigns.

    “What you have to do is to inform us within 72 hours when you are going for your campaigns or avail us with the timetable if your itinerary to make it easier for us. This is to stop thugs from hijacking your rallies. We are unbiased umpire.

    “Help us appeal to the parents and guidance of the boys who usually hijack the campaigns. They should counsel their children because the law will not spare anybody. The law will be harsh on anybody who breaches electoral process. We will enforce it.

    “During your campaign, we don’t want to see anybody carrying any arms to any rallies. On no account should you bring arms because if that is done you know the repercussion. So, warn your members and take this message back to them”.